The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-24
THIRrY-Two MILLION DOLLARS.
That Sum to be Distributed Among Seven
teen People, One of Whom Lives in Boston.

Boston Special to Chicago Times.
romantic story of sudden accession of i'm
mense wealth, which has the advantage of au-
thentic truth in all its details has for its fortu-
nate subject Louis Debreck, the post-trader at
the hayward in this city. A grandaunt, whom
he never saw, and of whom he knew nothing
until he heard of her money, left an immense
property in Java. valued at 62. 100000 guilders.
This wealth is to be divided equally between
seventeen cousins. and Louis Debreck is one of
the fortunate seventeen. He is the only one
who lives in this country The others all live
in his native land. Belgium.
A Journal reporter saw Mr.. Debreck at his
homo on Bunker Hill street, Charlestown. this
evening To Debreck the story is not new, for
he has known for ten years past of the prize that
was coming to him, and had opportunity to
prepare for the great change in his fortunes He
has been waiting patiently for the official dis
bcrsement of the money, and short time ago
he received the notice that called him to Belgium
to receive his share of the property. He will
sail fer his native country next month with his
family. and will return in the winter ard settle
down to a life of luxury in Boston
The beginning of this strange story dates
back nearly a century. In about the year 1910
Marie Won Water was employed in the family
of Lagassa. a merchant prince of Rotterdam,
who owned vast coffee plantations in Java and
who had established enormous trade between
that port and Rotterdam. The cargoes for his
ships consisted entirely of coffee from. the Java
plantations. which were prepared for the mar
ket by several hundred slaves. This merchant
had ont one son, and he became enamored of
his fathers pretty servant and asked her to mar
ry him. The father interposed no objections
and the young people were married. Soon after
the marriage the father and the young couple
sailed for Java, and spent the rest of their lives
on the plantation. The father died in a
few years and the son succeeded to his
vast estate, and managed the property
shrewdly that it increased in value. He died in
1853 leaving but child-a son-and his
widow. For several years the widow took per-
sonal interest in managing the plantation for
the benefit of her child. but in 1869 the boy, too
died. The heartbroken woman lost all interest
in her great wealth and left it to her to
care for. In 1875 she died, having reached the
ripe old age of "a years. The plantations were
in the Holland colony, and the government took
possession for the benefit of the heirs. Active
the husbands side was extinct. The government
did not know where to look for the relatives Of
the deceased widow. The plantation was then
run in the interest of the Holland government.
Al the time of the widow Lagassas death she
owned the vast plantation and more than 400
slaves in Java, seventy-four ships. half-dozsn
barks and several smaller coasting vessels, to-
Eether with extensive warehouses In Rotter-
dam. A captain of one of the ships the
first to give information that led to the discov
cry of the riehtful heirs. His mother new that
the Widow Lagassas maiden name was Marie
Won Water, and she casually mentioned the fact
to her
The captain knew family named Won Water
In Rotterdam, and the next time he touched at
that port which was in 1877. he told these
friends that it might be we'll for them look
I'D their family history and see if they were
not entitled to some of the property in
Java held by the Holland government. Then
It was that Mr.. Debreck heard of his good
fortune. and he thanked his lucky stars that
his grandaunt was Marie Won Water Lagassa
He and his wife were in Bruges Belgium,
having gone across the water a visit to
family relatives. They were stopping at Rue de
suddenly the bel-rope was rung so violently
that the rope was nearly broken. Before the
door could be opened by the family it was burst
In by several excited men, who rushed up stairs
into the room where the astonished family were
standing. A hasty glance showed them that
their visitors were relatives Every body spoke
at once. The men were crazy with excitement.
Finally they became calmer and told the story of
the vast wealth awaiting them. They counted
noses" and found that seventeen cousins were
entitled to equal shares in the property. Then
they sent out for their friends and for wine, and
spent the night in merry making. They did not
then know the value of the property, but they
knew that it would bring q good many thousand
guilders to each of them
An eminent lawyer was engaged to investigate
the case in the interest of the heirs. They easily
proved their relationship to the deceased owner
Of the Java plantations. Then the lawyer pre-
sented the case to the Belgian government sup
ported By all the necessary legal papers and
proofs. After considerable official correspond
ence between the Belgian and the Holland gov
ernments the latter signifed its willingness to
pay just sum for the property, with interest
for the time it had been in its hands. The
Belgian government sent Mr.. Henry NJ Stanley,
the African plorer, to appraise the property in
Java He fixed the value at 62. 600, 600 guiders,
equal to about $32, $50. 900 of our money. The
Holland government offered no objection to pay
ing the sum, and few months ago the necessary
papers transferring the property was signed.
Now all that remains is for the interested par
ties to affix their signatures to the papers and
receive their share Of the money. The princi-
pal with the accrued interest will amount to
nearly 100000 for each person. Mr.. De-
brock Is, of course, happy in the prospect of re-
ceiving SO much money, but he has not yet given
up his old work II know that it is all right"
he said This evening 'for 1 have the off,
cial papers. but / thought might we'll keep
busy until the time came for me to get my
money. I've got good job and I'm making $11
a day. SO thought might we'll keep ct it.
You see, I've known this for ten years, SO I'm
used to the idea. We are going to Belgium next
month, and that accounts for the you see'
pointing to boxes and trunks that were lying
about) I'm coming back again Jan. 15 and
my folks will come in April am going to build,
buy a house facing the monument. and take it
easy the rest Of my life. have been in this
country since 1860 or about that time.
YOU'D like to know about our relations with
this great aunt2 Well it's rather mixed, but l
guess we can straighten it out. For myself can
tell you right away. MY mothers mother that
would be my grandmother) was sister to this
Widow Lagassa My grandmothers name was
Rumlord Il think that's the way to spell it,, and
she had ter children. My mother is dead and l
am the only child in her family. Only two of
my grandmother's children are living-Theresa
and Sofia Theresa has three children and Sofia
has two children living l. of course, take my
mothers share, and Theresa and Sofia have
ike amount. That makes all in my immediate
family. My grandaunt, the widow,
also lad q sister named Caroline. She
was the youngest of seventeen children. Caro-
inc is dead, but she leaves four children-Sarah,
Eliza, Virginia and EverEardt. They come into
equal shares of the money. They make seven.
so far. Then my erandaunt had a brother
named Pierre Won Water. He committed suicide
about thirty years ago by drowning himself in
ais own pond because his second wife
Jealous. He had seven children, all of whom
ire living. Their names ara John, Adolph.
Paul. Everhardt, Eliza, and two others whose
names 1 don't think of just now. Let me see.
hat makes fourteen, doesn't it2 o yes: then
here were the three children of another sister:
Ter married name was Viuka L forget
what her first name was, but
Ter boys were named Adolph, Pierre. |
and Paul That cnrnnlaras the LIST ASH said |